Spring-wheel.



' J. GORBIN.

SPRING WHEEL.

urmouxon rum) M313, 1911.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

Fl-Ellg JOSEPH CURBIN 8:6 .03 04,113.

ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHlNu'rON. D. C.

JOSEPH CORBIN, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, 1911. Serial No. 610.120.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J osEPH CORBIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at 504 West Broad street, Columbus, in the county of Franklinand State of Ohio, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.-

The present invention relates to spring wheels adapted for use inconnection with automobiles and other vehicles, and is designed withspecial regard for lightness, strength and durability.

The essence of the invention resides 1n the spring spokes and necessaryaccessories by means of which all jars or concussions, and shocks due tofaulty roads are absorbed before they reach the vehicle body.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionand combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter setforth.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one example of thephysical embodiment of my invention constructedaccording to the bestmode I have so far devised for the practical. application of theprinciples thereof.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view on line 22 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargedvertical central sectional view of a portion of the wheel, showing spokehousings in detail, and Fig. is a transverse sectional view of a portionthereof.

The rubber tire 1 of the wheel is incased within the metallic rim 2which is fashioned with the usual flanges 3, 3, forming the channel forthe tire.

Within the rim is secured the felly 4, which as clearly seen in thedrawings, is

- formed with a central inwardly projecting hollow portion 5constituting an annular chamber or space 6 for a purpose to bespecified. I

The central spool or hub 7 is of metal and formed with end plates 8, 8,from which are .projected the flaring annular flanges 9, 9.

The flanges 9, of the hub are perforated, as at 10, and the annularprojection 5 of the felly is provided with perforations 11 complementarythereto, and between these perforated members the spokes 12 aresuspended.

The spokes 12 are each provided with a helical, conical spring portion13, and their ends 14 and 15 are threaded, the inner end 14 of eachspoke being passed through the perforated flange of .the hub, and theouter end 15 being passed through the opening 11 of the felly.- Clampingnuts 17 serveto hold the threaded ends of the spokes in position. Asillustrated in the drawings there are eight of these spokes 12, but itwill be understood that the number may be varied to differingcircumstances. The outer ends of the spokes are centered in the felly,but it will be seen that the inner end of each alternating spoke isattached to an opposing flange of the hub, (see Fig. 4) thus forming apyramidal support between the hub and tire which insures strength.

In addition to the spokes 12 I utilize a series of perpendicularlyarranged spokes 18 arranged on diametric-lines, and incased by thehousings 19. The housings are made up of sections 19 secured together bybolts or screws 20 passed through the perforated ears 21. The housingsections are attached to the ends of the hub by means of the bolts 22which are secured in the bosses 23 cast upon the outer side of thehousing sections for this purpose. Near the outer end of each housingits sections are formed with an interior integral flange 24, the twocomplementary flanges forming. a ball bearing cup 25 in which theanti-friction balls 26 are held about the spoke 18. A screw cap 27closes the cup 25.

The spokes 18 are secured at their inner ends in the perforated ears 28provided on one section of the spoke housings, their outer ends extendthrough perforations 29 and 30 in the bottom of the cup 25 and the screwcap 27 respectively; and their threaded ends are passed through slots orelongated openings 31 in the projection 5 of the felly. The clampingnuts of the spokes bear against the washers 32 and 33 which extend overthe opening 31.

To provide a cushion for the housed spokes I attach a rubber bumper 34to the inner, larger, washer 33 and this cushion is adapted to absorbshocks sustained and taken up by the spring spokes. The impact is madebetween the screw cap 27 and the cushion or bumper.

While I have illustrated four diametrically arranged shock absorbingspokes with Patented Jan. 30,1912.

acushion, it will be understood of course that the number may be variedto suit exigencies that develop.

The ball bearings illustrated are for the purpose of supporting thespokes at their outer ends and taking up thrusts or lateral strainsthereon, and the slotted openings 31 in the telly provide for anymovement of the spokes at their ends.

From theabove description taken in connection with the drawings it isevident that I have provided a well bracedfspring wheel having a broador wide hub, the spokes diverging from the telly where they are securelyheld, and extending alternately to the opposing ends of the hub forminga pyramid construction to prevent collapse of the wheel.

The construction of the separate elements of the wheel permits an easyassemblage of the parts, and parts may be removed and substituted withfacility.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure-by Letters Patent is v v 1. The combination in a wheel with arecessed felly and a hub having end flanges, of spring spokes rigidlysecured in the recessed felly and extending to alternate sides of thehub and secured to said flanges, a

' opposite sides of the hub, securing means for attaching the inner endsof the spokes to their respective flanges, and a series of perpendicularspring spokes having their outer ends secured 1n said recess, a houslngabout each perpendicular spoke attached to the hub, means for attachingthe inner end of each perpendicular spoke to its housing, a

, bearing cup formed at the outer end of each housing and balls therein,a screw cap over each cup, and a cushion attached to the felly to absorbshocks from said housings.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH CORBIN. Witnesses:

C. M. SI-IIGLEY, IDA A. EVANS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

